The Role of Ayurvedic Medicine in the Treatment of Eczema.

Abstract

Eczema is a chronic relapsing atopic dermatitis associated with purities, sleep disturbance and poor quality of life of the patient. Treatment of eczema includes use of emollient, topical and systemic antimicrobial agents, corticosteroid or immunomodulating agents. Many patients also seek alternative treatments such as dietary avoidance, supplementation or both. The research examines the basic pathophysiology of eczema and clinical trials involving Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of eczema. For the evaluation of efficacy and safety of a Ayurvedic medicine,the study had been designed in four-groups, one group was kept as normal control group (A-Group) and other three groups were treated with test drug (C-Group) or allopathic drugs (D- Group) and another group was not given any drug (B- Group) ayurvedic drugs Holud (Curcuma longa) Durva grass (Cynodon dactylon) Neem (Azadirachta indica) are used as test drug. The experiment was conducted to investigate combined herbs. During the study 160 populations were interviewed. This was an 8-week, open labeled study of combined Ayurvedic preparation (tablet and ointment). Patients received the tablet three times daily for 8 weeks and ointment to be applied over the affected areas thrice daily for 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated on the basis of parameters of modified eczema area sensitivity index and physician’s and patients’ global evaluation at follow-up visits. 149 patients completed the study with reduction in symptoms of eczema to varying degrees. An interventional follow up study was conducted to find out the role of Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of Eczema and socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and attributes associated with the disease. Almost all of the patients 81.25% improved during their course of treatment. After third follow-up conditions deteriorated in 3.12% respondent and 8.75% fully cured. Due to the failure of coming at follow-up, the condition of few respondents (6.87%) could not be evaluated. This study confirms the efficacy of test the drug (tablet and ointment) in Bangladeshi patients with eczema.